2018 Panama Journal - Day 7 - Part 4

Friday 2/16/18 continued.

This is the bird we were here to see - the Dusky-backed Jacamar. This bird has a tiny range in far eastern Panama and a bit of western Columbia. It was only discovered at this location a couple of years ago, and is at the top of everyones list of target birds.

Dusky-backed Jacamar

We spent enough time here that everyone was able to get good long looks at this elusive bird.

The Jacamar was hiding in the banana field.

We headed back across the river.  While we waited for everyone to get across I went back to the craft table.  There was one more item I had looked at a couple of times but put back because I thought it was too large to fit in my suitcase.  I picked it up again, put it back down and told Mark it was just too big.  We had to wait a while for everyone to return from looking at the Jacamar and the whole time I kept thinking about that one item.  I really wanted it.  I went back to the table and picked it up again and showed it to Mark and he said we’d find a way to get it back home.  I might have to hand-carry it on the plane. 

It wasn’t until I got out my money to pay that I noticed 2 older women smiling and patting a younger girl on the back.  It was her mask that I had bought.

Here she is:

Florencia

You can’t see it from the picture but one side of the parrots beak is a lot larger than the other side.  The mask isn’t perfect - that gives it character and that is why I liked it so much.  This might have been the first mask she had made or the first one she had sold.  I don’t know (she didn’t speak English) but she was very proud of it.

It looks great on the wall in our house in Medina.

At home in Medina.

The larger plate is also in Medina along with the small woven basket I bought earlier in the week.

The smaller pieces will stay in the RV.

Before we left the Chief said a few words while Carlos translated.  We were thanked and told how much they appreciated our visit and how proud they were of their village and their birds.  I don’t think I will ever forget this day.

Next time:  Remember the joke - we have to wait for the person that has the key then wait for the person that has the gas then wait for the person who knows how to drive?  It wasn’t a joke.